Batman, Beatles and bikes keep West Lafayette mayor happy

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - In West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis' office, one thing quickly becomes apparent: The man loves Batman.

There's a Batphone in the corner of his office and a Batman mug on his desk to hold pens. There's a cabinet of Batman memorabilia, including Hot Wheels cars, action figures and even a Batman Pez candy dispenser. In the closet, there is a Batman suit, complete with cape and mask.

Then, there's Dennis himself, or rather his right leg, forever emblazoned with a Batman tattoo, thanks to a bet he made with his daughter, Michelle Long, several years ago.

"That's when the bat-too came into play," he told the Journal & Courier (http://on.jconline.com/1LxJzBQ ). "Because I lost a bet with my daughter."

For many West Lafayette residents, Dennis is simply the man in the mayor's chair. But he's also a man with interests one wouldn't necessarily expect of a police chief-turned-Republican mayor in Indiana.

Although people associate him with Batman, Dennis said he has a greater love for the Beatles. That love, he said, grew out of parental disapproval of the band. He recalled one day when he watched the Beatles on the "Ed Sullivan Show" with his father.

"He was shocked," Dennis said, laughing. "He was literally speechless."

The musicians had long hair, Dennis said, and his dad noted they looked - and sounded - like women.

Dennis was never allowed to grow his hair out while living at home.

"My hair was high and tight until the day I turned 18," he said.

Several years later, however, his hair had grown down to the middle of his back, and he began wearing an earring, which later got him in trouble with the Lafayette Police Department, where he was an officer.

Both the hair and the piercing may be gone now, but a third love has stuck with Dennis: motorcycles.

When asked why he loves bikes so much, Dennis said, "That's like saying, 'What do you like about oxygen?'"

The freedom, he said, and the raw experience with the environment are what he loves most about motorcycling. On occasion, he's even been known to ride with former governor and current Purdue University President Mitch Daniels.

But Dennis made a point to say that although he loves his hobbies, he's not distracted or fixated on them beyond the norm.

"It's not like I'm obsessed," he said with a laugh. As an example, he said he has a good friend who loves Superman and they joke about their different tastes. He said they're just fun hobbies of his.

When asked who would win in a contest of the two superheroes, Dennis said Batman is a human and Superman is an alien.

Humanity, hands down.

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Information from: Journal and Courier, http://www.jconline.com